Kamal Haasan, the celebrated South Indian actor, holds the distinction of having the most films (7) submitted by India for the Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards. This record surpasses those of Bollywood legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Dilip Kumar.
Haasan's journey in cinema began at a young age, winning the President's Medal for Best Child Actor for his debut film, Kalathur Kannamma. Fondly called "one-man industry", Haasan has excelled in various roles including acting, directing, producing, singing, writing and editing.
The films featuring Kamal Haasan that were submitted for Oscar consideration are:
- Saagar (1985)
- Swathi Muthyam (1986)
- Nayakan (1987)
- Apoorva Sagodharargal (1989)
- Anjali (1990)
- Thevar Magan (1992)
- Indian (1996)
Notably, Saagar, Swathi Muthyam, and Nayakan were submitted in consecutive years from 1985 to 1987. Nayakan (1987), directed by Mani Ratnam, was even recognized by Time magazine as one of the "100 greatest films of all time". Swathi Muthyam (Telugu, 1986) is about a man with childlike innocence who marries a young widow and attempts to defy convention.
Despite these submissions, none of Haasan's films secured a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category. India has received three nominations in the category: Mother India (1957), Salaam Bombay! (1988), and Lagaan (2001). To date, no Indian film has won an Oscar in this category. However, RRR won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
The Film Federation of India (FFI) appoints a committee to select a film from those released each year to be submitted as India's official entry for nomination in the Best International Feature Film category. The chosen films, along with English subtitles, are then sent to the Academy for jury screening.
Kamal Haasan has significantly contributed to Indian cinema, including advancing technology. He was the first to use a computer for song recording in Vikram (1986) and introduce prosthetic makeup in Indian. Haasan also played ten unique roles in Dasavathaaram (2008), a feat unmatched by any other actor. Kamal Haasan holds the record for the most Filmfare Awards won by any Indian, with a total of 19 victories.
